The travel carriage approached the river turnpike gates where imperial sentries manned the southern highway crossing.
Dozens of merchant wagons sat stranded along the dusty roadside under the watchful eyes of mounted toll guards.
A stout toll collector wearing an ornate crimson doublet stood beside the barred transit gate with folded arms.
"Halt that carriage and state your provincial clearance!" the collector shouted loudly.
The carriage driver pulled gently on the reins, bringing the four horses to a smooth stop before the barrier.
"We are traveling on direct royal business under valid passage orders."
"Every carriage from the northern borders pays the supplementary noble transit levy," the collector sneered.
"Our documents grant full diplomatic immunity across all imperial roads."
"Those worthless provincial scraps mean nothing at my river turnpike!" the collector barked.
"The levy costs forty silver pieces per axle for northern travelers," the deputy collector piped up.
